CSUSB students earned top awards at the 39th annual California State University (CSU) Student Research Competition held recently at Cal Poly Humboldt.

Sebastian Zazueta won first place in the Health, Nutrition, and Clinical Sciences category for his presentation, “Low-Volume Resistance Training Increases Muscle Strength and Reduces Stress in Older Women.” Michael Rubalcava also took first place in Humanities and Letters, working under the mentorship of Ryan Keating, professor of history and director of the Office of Student Research.

Luis Gonzalez and Rachel Kanter earned second place in the Behavioral and Social Sciences category, while Amy Katherine Bartels and Alewa Anaya received honorable mentions.

This year, 14 CSUSB students were selected to compete in the prestigious event, which showcases top student research from across the 23 CSU campuses.

Each year, more than 200 students submit written papers and deliver oral presentations to panels of expert judges. The CSU Student Research Competition, held April 25-26 this year, highlights outstanding research, scholarship, and creative work by undergraduate and graduate students from across all academic disciplines.

These accomplishments reflect the high caliber of research conducted by CSUSB students and the strong mentorship provided by faculty. Their success underscores the university’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation.